Composer: Charles Camille Saint-Saëns
Performer: Alexandre Kantorow
Orchestra: Tapiola Sinfonietta
Conductor: Jean-Jacques Kantorow
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: BIS
Catalogue: BIS2400
Release: 2022
Size: 1.3 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 22, R. 190
01. I. Andante sostenuto
02. II. Allegro scherzando
03. III. Presto
04. Wedding Cake, Op. 76, R. 124
05. Allegro appassionato in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 70, R. 37
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 17, R. 185
06. I. Andante
07. II. Andante sostenuto, quasi adagio
08. III. Allegro con fuoco
09. Rhapsodie d’Auvergne, Op. 73, R. 201
10. Africa, Op. 89, R. 204
In 2019, Alexandre and Jean-Jacques Kantorow’s recording of the last three piano concertos by Camille Saint-Saëns earned the highest praise around the world, including a “Diapason d’or de l’année”, “Editor’s Choice” in Gramophone and top marks and recommendations from the leading German websites. The Kantorows’ orchestra of choice was the Finnish ensemble Tapiola Sinfonietta, and they have now returned to Helsinki to record not only Saint-Saëns’ first two concertos, but all of the remaining works for piano and orchestra.
Presented on this amply filled disc, the programme spans 33 years, the earliest work being Concerto No. 1, regarded as the first significant French piano concerto and written by a 23-year old composer. Ten years later, in 1868, Saint-Saëns composed the Concerto in G minor, a work which at first met with consternation although Liszt – who was present at the first performance – thoroughly approved of it. The work, which begins with the soloist playing what resembles the improvisations of an organist, soon became popular however, and remains one of Saint-Saëns’ best-known works.
The shorter pieces which make up the rest of the programme were written between 1884 and 1891, and could be said to erveal different aspects of the composer: Wedding Cake was written as a wedding present to a close friend, in Rhapsodie d’Auvergne Saint-Saeëns explored French folk music, while Africa is a piece of pure Orientalism, reflecting his lasting affection for North Africa.